Houses evacuated as floodwaters rise

Homeowners were evacuated from their houses in Budds Lane, Romsey, on Friday as flood water continued to rise.

All the homes in Budds Lane were flooded after the River Test breached its banks overnight on Thursday.

Greatbridge Road remained closed as the water continued to flow from the fields and across the road, down into Budds Lane.
While those living there were left to watch on helplessly as their homes filled with water, the area became a tourist attraction, with scores of people turning up to take photos.

One Budds Lane resident, Caroline Egg, was evacuated at 6pm on Friday but was back to save what she could on Saturday, as well as trying to flag down a pick-up truck to rescue her car from the flood water.

Clive Gardner, who lives in Greatbridge Road, had tried to save his furniture by putting everything up on bricks but by Friday afternoon it proved futile as water kept pouring in. His garden is under 2ft of water, while inside there’s at least a foot of water throughout.

He said: “I’m a man, so not meant to admit this, but I was in tears. Nothing can be done until the water starts going down.”

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As previously reported, homeowners were woken in the early hours of Friday morning when the water first started to flood into their gardens.They were forced to barricade their drives with sandbags in a bid to keep the waves of water out.

Greatbridge Service Station was forced to close at 6am on Friday and looks set to remain closed while the forecourt remains under water.

A boom was placed across the A3057 in the early hours of Saturday beneath the rail bridge at Greatbridge to prevent the floodwater entering the town centre.

- TVBC is currently working round the clock to meet the increased demand for sandbags to combat flooding.

Residents living in areas of the borough where an Environment Agency Flood Warning has been issued will be delivered sandbags free of charge upon request.

Residents not in a Flood Warning area can purchase filled sandbags at a cost of £2.20 each. Residents requiring sandbags should call the council’s customer service team on 01264 368000 or 01794 527700.

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- SOUTHERN Water have warned the public not to lift manhole covers in a bid to hasten drainage.

The company’s spokesperson stated: “We urge people not to do this as it can worsen the situation by letting in more water, overwhelming the sewers further. It also poses a health and safety risk as people may trip or fall on the raised cover.”

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Comments (3)

Unfortunately this is what happens when people live near rivers such as The Test.

Unfortunately this is what happens when people live near rivers such as The Test.butterfly50

Unfortunately this is what happens when people live near rivers such as The Test.

Score: 0

nickyromsey says...1:40pm Mon 10 Feb 14

please keep the water away from the town centre.

please keep the water away from the town centre.nickyromsey

please keep the water away from the town centre.

Score: 3

APavlova says...10:46am Thu 13 Feb 14

Every sympathy to the poor people who have been flooded.No doubt the environment agency are doing their best for us. However we must learn from this experience. Are we really going to flood Romsey with an excessive amount of housing?Our new local plan is inadequate .We must think again.The town could be totally cut off at Greatbridge ,Winchester Road ,and the by pass.More hard surfaces with a massive super store and car parks of Broadlands Tesco. We must preserve as natural flood defences areas those areas of farmland which protect the town.Expert opinion has been proved to be ill advised and expensive.We need to limit building to areas which are not vulnerable.We need to work with the natural character of the town and use our common sense.It is to be hoped our elected representatives have the courage to do a U turn.

Every sympathy to the poor people who have been flooded.No doubt the environment agency are doing their best for us.
However we must learn from this experience.
Are we really going to flood Romsey with an excessive amount of housing?Our new local plan is inadequate .We must think again.The town could be totally cut off at Greatbridge ,Winchester Road ,and the by pass.More hard surfaces with a massive super store and car parks of Broadlands Tesco.
We must preserve as natural flood defences areas those areas of farmland which protect the town.Expert opinion has been proved to be ill advised and expensive.We need to limit building to areas which are not vulnerable.We need to work with the natural character of the town and use our common sense.It is to be hoped our elected representatives have the courage to do a U turn.APavlova

Every sympathy to the poor people who have been flooded.No doubt the environment agency are doing their best for us. However we must learn from this experience. Are we really going to flood Romsey with an excessive amount of housing?Our new local plan is inadequate .We must think again.The town could be totally cut off at Greatbridge ,Winchester Road ,and the by pass.More hard surfaces with a massive super store and car parks of Broadlands Tesco. We must preserve as natural flood defences areas those areas of farmland which protect the town.Expert opinion has been proved to be ill advised and expensive.We need to limit building to areas which are not vulnerable.We need to work with the natural character of the town and use our common sense.It is to be hoped our elected representatives have the courage to do a U turn.

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